Pilgrimage Through the Douro Valley

I was anticipating more terraced vineyards than churches and castles but the route to Santiago de Compostela also goes through the Douro region. After a stop at the palace of Mateus which is featured on the label of the bottle of the famous rosé wine, we are onto the historical village of Rodrigo. This was a stop off point on a pilgrimage enroute to Santiago which was set up by the Order of Christ. There is a long history, and the ruins of the Castelo Rodrigo will never be rebuilt because of superstition and legend, as its destruction is a symbol of the independence from Spanish oppression. The town of Salamanaca with its dual cathedrals is truly a walk back in time to medieval 1500. It is amazing how the construction and the magnificence of the tributes to God were able to be completed by primitive building methods. This town was a jumping off point to the Douro Valley with the ultimate goal of pilgrims reaching Santiago. I must confess that I probably had never heard of Douro Valley a year ago. It is dwarfed in size by the Rhine and Danube but it stands tall when comparing to the magnitude of its scenic grandeur, terraced vineyards, and olive trees. The diversity of the wine products from table wines to Port to Muscadel is unparalleled. I have been convinced, if there was ever any doubt, that Portuguese wine is definitively a world class leader. We have been to a few of the more notable ones, including Sandman and Quinta Avessada. The region is also known for its four-corner bread and a trip to one of the local bakeries serving up freshly baked loafs with butter and quinze marmalade tops off any morning of touring. VIAGEM FELIZES!!

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